Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens MDPI

Zoos have changed a lot over time. They used to be places where people could see wild animals for pleasure, now they are places where people can learn about animals and help them survive. This change has taken many years and many steps, and this article tells you how it happened. Zoos do a lot to protect animals and their habitats. They keep animals in safe and comfortable spaces where you can study them and learn more about them. They also teach people about animals and explain why they are important. They also breed animals that are threatened with extinction so that they keep their genes and diversity. One of the most important jobs of zoos is to make sure that the animals are happy and healthy. They do this by giving them things to do and see that are similar to what they would experience in the wild. For example, they give them food to find or catch, or toys to play with. This makes them less bored and stressed and more active and natural. But not all animals like the same things, so zoos have to be careful to find the right things for the right animals. They also need to observe how the animals behave and react to their environment so they know whether they are doing well or not. Based on this information, they can make changes or improvements if needed. Zoos have also improved in other ways, such as providing bigger and better spaces for the animals, more research and experimentation, more programmes and activities for the public, more specific staff training for each animal, and working with other zoos to manage their animal populations. This article explains how zoos became what they are today and what they can do better in the future. It is very useful for anyone who works in a zoo or is interested in animals. https://lnkd.in/dBckJrPe

Research on improving the living conditions of captive bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) is still quite limited, but it's crucial for ensuring these animals have a good quality of life under human care. Environmental enrichment should be inclusive, allowing even disabled animals to explore and enjoy their surroundings. This study focused on food enrichment strategies to boost the foraging behavior of both non-disabled and disabled bearded dragons. Conducted at the São Paulo Aquarium, the research involved six adult bearded dragons—three with one limb amputated and three fully limbed. They were offered live kingworm larvae (Zophobas morio) at three different levels of challenge: low, medium, and high. Behavioral data were collected using focal sampling with recordings every 30 seconds. The results showed that more complex food challenges led to increased foraging activity. Both amputee and non-amputee dragons responded similarly to the enrichment items, though amputees were more likely to remain stationary or lie down. Encouraging more studies like this can help establish better management practices, ensuring a higher quality of life and promoting natural behaviors in reptiles, even those with physical disabilities. https://lnkd.in/d_6aGQvW

Despite being everywhere in public conservation areas, the design of signs doesn't get much attention in research. To understand how people read educational signs, maps, and species information, we used a remote eye-tracking device. We tested three different designs and a plain-text control for each type of sign. The content was based on Brackenhurst Botanic Garden in Kenya and included various texts about information and species, as well as four ways to show extinction threat status and trail routes on maps. We collected data from 51 participants at six cultural venues in Nottingham, UK. We found that signs placed center-left of an exhibit were read first. People read and focused on the left side of signs the most. Signs with one large image and a block of text were generally preferred, and images were the most remembered. The extinction threat status was best viewed and recalled from green-red thermometer diagrams, while the IUCN red list diagram was the least effective. Map routes were clearest when shown as colored solid lines. This study shows that eye-tracking research can be very useful for improving sign design and understanding how people use signs. https://lnkd.in/dcSxVkn5

A study in Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens MDPI investigated the effects of foraging enrichment strategies on the behaviour of six captive bearded dragons: three disabled (amputated limbs) and three non-disabled: 🦎Three levels of enrichment: Low (bowl), medium (maze) and high complexity (bottle). 🦎Foraging behaviour increased with complexity of enrichment. 🦎Both amputees and non-amputees showed similar engagement with enrichment. 🦎Generally, amputees spent more time stationary and lying down. --- Read paper (open access): https://lnkd.in/gRs6nEdS --- #ZooResearch #animalwelfare #enrichment #herpetology #beardeddragon

Call for reading: Evaluating Potential Indicators of Welfare for Zoo Birds during an Avian Influenza Enforced Housing Order Authors: Thomas Collard and Paul Rose https://lnkd.in/dXqsp-j8 Unusual or extraordinary circumstances can cause change to normal husbandry regimes and daily care of managed animals. Increased biosecurity due to disease risk, for example, results in animals experiencing restrictions. Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have caused zoos to remove birds from their regular exhibits and manage them indoors or in covered enclosures to reduce the likelihood of an HPAI outbreak on site. To date, there has been little research on the impacts of such husbandry change on bird behaviour and welfare. This paper examines the effect of an HPAI-induced enforced housing order (HO) on the behaviour and physical condition of a flock of Chilean flamingos in a UK zoo. Using ZooMonitor to record flock-wide behaviour patterns and scoring plumage condition, we collected data on flamingos during a housing order, immediately after lifting of the HO, and after a period of acclimation to their regular routine. Results showed that flamingos were very inactive under a HO and after release, that abnormal, redirected foraging actions occurred during the HO and after release, and that flamingos were more alert under the HO. An increase in records of good plumage condition correlated with social behaviour, inactivity, higher temperatures, and rain. This research highlights the multifactorial influences on zoo animal behaviour and shows why information on the animals, their inputs, the behavioural outputs they present, and their physical attributes should all be gathered and evaluated together to best understand the influences of husbandry and management changes on behaviour and welfare.

Empathy can be a powerful catalyst for caring action toward wildlife and nature more broadly. Given the critical developmental period of early childhood, interventions that build the capacity of educators to support empathy development in young children are needed. We report on an evaluation of an empathy-focused Community of Practice (CoP) that engaged 15 regional early childhood professionals (including four zoo preschool staff) in the co-creation of empathy practices that are deepened through a ‘Two-Worlds’ (Indigenous and Western) approach. Ripple effect mapping was the evaluation approach used, as its participatory nature and emphasis on reflection were well aligned with the CoP approach. The results suggest CoP participation influenced teachers’ capacity for supporting empathy development, which rippled outward from teacher-level impacts to positive impacts on children, families, and beyond. We also offer reflections on the use of a CoP approach to build individual, organizational, and community capacity for supporting empathy, as well as on the conduciveness of ripple effect mapping for evaluating capacity-building professional learning in the context of empathy conservation. https://lnkd.in/g9guuydV

With human activities and climate change putting increasing pressure on natural areas, it's crucial to ramp up efforts to conserve species. One important method is ex situ conservation, which involves protecting species outside their natural habitats. However, botanic gardens, especially tropical ones, face challenges in safeguarding the vast diversity of plant life. This study zeroes in on the living collection at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden's arboretum. Between January and July 2023, researchers examined all the cultivated plants and checked the garden's records. They compared the collection with the Flora e Funga do Brasil list and various Red Lists to get a clearer picture. The findings are impressive: the collection boasts 6,960 specimens from 1,420 species, with 60.6% of these species being native to Brazil. These plants come from 134 different botanical families and represent all of Brazil's phytogeographic regions. The Atlantic Forest and the Amazon regions have the most species in cultivation. In terms of conservation, the collection includes 83 species from Brazil's Red List and 106 species from the IUCN Red List. This contributes to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, specifically Target 8, which aims to conserve plant diversity. This evaluation is just the beginning. It helps identify gaps in the collection, guides future planning, and targets species for acquisition to boost conservation efforts. https://lnkd.in/dtuzBZhs

Participating in the joint Congress for the Australian Association of Animal Science (AAAS) and the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production (AAAP) was such an eye-opener for us! This congress brought together the experts within the field of Animal Science from Asia and Australasia to discuss the latest research and developments. Topics such as animal genetics, breeding, nutrition and welfare were topics discussed over three days. It was an absolute pleasure for MDPI to have the following journals represented in the conference - Animals MDPI, Veterinary Sciences MDPI, Applied Biosciences MDPI, Dairy MDPI, CIMB, Ruminants, Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens MDPI, Agriculture MDPI and Pets. We would like to extend our appreciation to the conference committee for organizing this congress and our gratitude to the scholars and visitors who took time to visit us at our booth. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future!   Till next time… #MDPI #MDPISingapore #Conference #Research #Innovation #Animals #VeterinarySciences #AppliedBiosciences #DairyScience #CIMB #Ruminants #JZBG #Agriculture #PetsResearch

Call for reading: Predatory Responses and Feeding Behaviour of Three Elasmobranch Species in an Aquarium Setting https://lnkd.in/ecjwMb2a first_page settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessArticlePeer-Reviewed Predatory Responses and Feeding Behaviour of Three Elasmobranch Species in an Aquarium Setting by Sandra Costa 1,João Neves 2,* ,Gonçalo Tirá 1 andJosé Pedro Andrade 3 1 Department of Oceanography, Zoomarine Algarve, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal 2 Department of Science and Education, Zoomarine Algarve, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal 3 Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2023, 4(4), 775-787; https://lnkd.in/dGDdXZSv Submission received: 10 October 2023 / Revised: 21 November 2023 / Accepted: 28 November 2023 / Published: 2 December 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Sharks under Human Care: Challenges and Opportunities) Download keyboard_arrow_down  Browse Figure Versions Notes Abstract Many progressive aquariums worldwide house various elasmobranch species as part of their commitment to conservation awareness and the long-term well-being of these creatures. These aquariums face the challenge of enabling these natural predators to live harmoniously with other fish without triggering natural predation. This research, conducted at Zoomarine Algarve in Southern Portugal, aimed to investigate the behaviour of three elasmobranch species (Carcharhinus melanopterus (1:1:0), Triaenodon obesus (1:0:0), and Pteroplatytrygon violacea (0:3:0)) when exposed to different feeding mechanisms. The goal was to provide them with opportunities for alternative predatory behaviours beyond their typical feeding techniques and to reduce the likelihood of natural predation. The study took place under controlled conditions within a community habitat. Four feeding methods (pole, short buoy, long buoy, and PVC) were tested during morning, afternoon, and evening periods, using five different prey species. The results shed light on which feeding method aligns best with each species’ distinct physiological standards and predatory tendencies and revealed their prey preferences. All three species interacted with all feeding methods, with P. violacea showing a strong preference for the pole method. T. obesus favoured bony fish, while C. melanopterus showed a preference for cephalopods. P. violacea interacted with all prey types but displayed no marked preference. These various feeding methods and prey options also function as environmental enrichment strategies, enhancing the complexity of the habitat and providing the animals with more choices and control, ultimately promoting their welfare in captivity.

MDPI is excited to announce our participation in the joint Congress for the Australian Association of Animal Science (AAAS) and the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production (AAAP). This significant event, taking place from 9 to 12 July 2024 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, combines the 35th biennial AAAS conference and the 20th AAAP Congress into one impactful meeting. The congress, themed “Embracing Disruption as an Opportunity for Animal Science,” will bring together leading experts in animal science from the Asia and Australasia regions. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the latest developments and research findings in areas such as animal genetics, breeding, nutrition, health, behavior, and welfare across a diverse range of species. We encourage participants to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations showcasing their original research, innovative technologies, and best practices. MDPI is honored to have the following journals represented in the conference - Animals MDPI, Veterinary Sciences MDPI, Applied Biosciences MDPI, Dairy MDPI, CIMB, Ruminants, Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens MDPI, Agriculture MDPI and Pets. We warmly invite all attendees to visit our booth #5 to meet our representatives and learn more about our journals. We look forward to connecting with you in person and assisting you with any queries you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website at https://www.aaap2024.com/. #MDPI #MDPISingapore #Conference #Research #Innovation #Animals #VeterinarySciences #AppliedBiosciences #DairyScience #CIMB #Ruminants #JZBG #Agriculture #PetsResearch